It's been a
while since we saw a single-player map reviewed
here as Level of the Week. Well, I'm here
to give you the good news - Satyr fills
this gap with style. Kona has produced a
variety of maps for all three Quakes, and
his design experience clearly shows in this
frantic level that pits you against nearly
200 Strogg in a Norse/Medieval setting.
The background story explains that, "Human
civilisation did not begin on Earth. It
began in another world, named Satyr...But
after the humans left, the world did not
die. It lived on with a new race of hostile
creatures." As part of an archaeology
team that discovered a lost portal back
to Satyr, you find yourself transported
to a fortress in your ancient homeworld,
in a no-holds-barred battle for survival.
Kona uses some lovely custom textures to
build a heavy-set fortress of stone and
wood, lying under a hellish sky. The ambience
of this old land is well evoked, resulting
in a definite sense of place which adds
nicely to the playing experience. The castle
is generally well-lit, with pools of gloom
here and there to provide some contrast.
The overall feeling is very reminiscent
of a brooding Quake 1 level, due in no small
part to Kona's unique architectural style.
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The player is
led on an essentially linear route through
the level, but the path winds its way round
and back so much that this never feels restrictive.
Earlier areas are revisited often as you
progress, usually through previously closed
doors or along ledges and floors that you
have passed under before. This is a tried-and-tested
mapping technique, and Kona makes clever
use of it here to control the pacing of
gameplay with peaks of intense action amid
moments of calm.
Each new section brings waves of fresh
monsters to fight, pouring forth from hidden
alcoves, around corners, and swarming in
from the angry sky. And there are a *lot*
of the buggers to bring down, that's for
sure. The experience is best described as
an orgy of combat - it's the pure, hedonistic
glee of wading through hordes of Strogg
that I loved most about this level.
Running, jumping, ducking, dodging and
firing - always firing - you need to blend
all of these into one smooth, deadly action
as you blaze your way through to the end.
Even on the hardest skill setting, there's
enough ammo scattered around that you don't
need to worry too much about running out;
just concentrate on survival. As you're
brought back to the earlier areas, you're
awarded a welcome respite - that is, unless
you happen upon a couple of medics undoing
your previous hard work. Then it's time
to take a deep breath and leap back into
the fray.
The final showdown includes 5 gladiators,
3 tank commanders, a supertank and 2 flying
bosses, one group straight after another.
This takes place in a split-level arena
from which the only escape, of course, is
to be the last one standing. Enough cover
(and health) is provided to make the battle
survivable...just. For those who have discovered
the secret Invulnerability along the way,
save it for now. It was towards the end
of this epic mêlée that my
contact lenses dried up because I hadn't
dared to blink. I felt almost battered myself
as the final enemy crashed down, and I walked
out of Satyr with just 2 health points left.
Warm up your trigger finger, strap on your
best pair of cloven hooves, and prepare
to go freestyle.
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